Protein turnover modifications induced by the protein feeding pattern still persist after the end of the diets

This study was undertaken to determine whether the protein feeding pattern could induce chronic adaptation of protein turnover. After a 15-day adaptiv e period, elderly (68 yr) and young (26 yr) women received, for 14 days, a diet providing 200 KJ.kg fat-free mass (FFM)(-1).day(-1), where the daily p rotein intake (1.7 g protein.kg FFM-1.day(-1)) was either spread over 4 mea ls in the spread pattern or mainly (80%) consumed at noon in the pulse patt ern. One day after the end of the dietary treatment, whole body leucine kin etics were measured by use of a continuous [C-13]leucine infusion, both in the postabsorptive state and in the same fed state. The pulse pattern was a ble to induce, in young as in elderly women, a lower postabsorptive leucine oxidation and endogenous leucine flux than the spread pattern and improved the responsiveness of nonoxidative leucine disposal during 4-h oral feedin g. Thus the pulse pattern was able to induce chronic regulation of protein metabolism in young as in elderly women.